In the kitchen she shook her head, glaring at the wall separating their apartments. The volume on Shane’s television was loud enough for her to practically hear every word. She put the kettle on and picked up her stack of mail when the sound of two men arguing permeated the wall.
“I get it, you’re home.” The yelling grew, and she inched toward the wall. The sound wasn’t characters having a fight on television after all, it was Shane and Dillon.
With her heart pounding, she put her ear to the wall but only made out muffled words. From the sounds of things, the argument was escalating, and she definitely heard her name.
They didn’t need this. Shane didn’t need it, and she spun around, scanning the room until she found her phone. She rushed for it to call Shane and get him over under the guise of an emergency.
A large crash on the wall rumbled through her apartment followed by silence. With her breath ragged and knees weak, she tore out of her apartment.
“Shane.” She balled her fist and pounded on his door. “Shane!”
No one answered. Something jabbed into her skin but she continued to hit the door. Desperate to get inside, she tried the knob and the door opened. “Shane!” She put her hand to her chest. Shane was on the floor near the wall and Dillon lay on top of Shane’s crushed coffee table. “Oh my God.”
“Lindsay.” Shane held his hand up. “It’s okay.”
Okay? Not in the slightest. She ran, skidding her knees across the carpet to get to him. “No it’s not.” She touched his face, swollen on one side from an obvious hit.
“She shouldn’t be here. See what you bring her into.” Dillon moved a piece of the coffee table aside.
“Lindsay, go back to your apartment, I’m fine.” He kept his focus on Dillon.
She shook her head, and assessed how badly he was hurt. “No.”
“Lindsay.” Shane’s voice hardened. “You need to go, all right?”
She copied his tone of voice and set her jaw. “I’ll leave, but only with you.”
“You have her so snowed.” Dillon snarled.
She held her breath, concentrating on Shane. He needed to come with her for both of them.
“Let’s go.” Shane struggled a bit, but got to his feet.
“Let me get you some clothes.” Without waiting for consent, she went to his room and gathered up a few things. When she returned, both men stood glaring at each other. “We can get anything else you need later.”
Shane grabbed her hand. A shooting pain went through her palm and she gasped.
“What the…” He lifted her hand. “What is this?”
“I think I scraped it on the door.” Blood trickled down her hand to her wrist. “It’s no big deal, let’s just go.”
“Hold on.” He let go of her and approached his brother. “I owe you nothing. Figure out a way out of here by tomorrow night.”
Dillon looked at her and she shuddered.
“Don’t even glance in her direction, brother.” Shane charged forward. “This is for hurting her.” He pulled his fist back, hitting him squarely across the jaw.
Dillon fell back onto the shards of the coffee table.
Lindsay covered her eyes.
“You’re trash,” Dillon yelled.
“You’re homeless.” Shane took his clothes and cradling her hand in his, led her back to her apartment.
“Let me get you some ice.” She charged into action.
“You don’t have to do this, Lindsay.” He remained near the door, anger lacing his tone.
She glared, hands on her hips. “What do you mean?”
“You shouldn’t have seen that.”
“Don’t go there.”
“Dillon’s right.”
“About what?” Her stomach fluttered.
He didn’t move, only stared at the floor shaking his head.
She watched him struggle. Was that what happened the night he didn’t show up? She couldn’t live wondering when he would leave her or simply not show up again. “Shane, if walking away from me is what you want, you need to go.”
The whistle of the kettle broke the silence in the room. She walked over to the stove, praying Shane would do something.
“I want to see your hand.” He kicked the door shut, dropped his bundle of clothes and joined her.
“I’m fine.” She attempted to hold her hand out of his reach. “We should get some ice on your cheek.”
“We’re taking care of you first.”
She turned away.
“Lindsay.” He came up behind her. “Let me see!”
“Just go.”
“I’m not leaving my girlfriend with a bleeding hand.” He took her shoulder. “Let me see!”
She spun around, not because of his yelling, but because of the word he used again. “Do you mean that?” Everything in her peripheral vision turned black, and only Shane remained in the room.
“Yes, we are taking care of your hand.”
“Not that.” She clenched her fist. The insecure Ohio girl crept up, and she needed some answers before Shane tended to her wound. “I want to know what you meant when you called me … what you just did.”
“That I’m not leaving my girlfriend with a bleeding hand?”
She pursed her lips willing herself to be quiet.
His faced hardened. “You are my girlfriend and I won’t walk away when you’re hurt.”
All she could do was stand there, trembling.
“Oh.” A smile crossed his bruised face.
She focused on his concert t-shirt, sure that the vintage band members were laughing at her. He bent down and she found herself nose to nose with him.
“You are my girlfriend.”
“I am?” She wished a big boot would come out of nowhere and kick her.
“I didn’t realize there was confusion about it.” He touched her hair.
“I wanted to clarify what that meant.” She dug deep, determined to get it all out.
He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “You are my girlfriend, I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t want to. I just thought you knew.”
She prayed she wasn’t dreaming.
“I’m not going anywhere. And … I’m not a big fan of my girlfriend having to rush in and save me.”
“How do you think it felt to see my boyfriend like that?” Her breath hitched at getting to claim him as her boyfriend.
“I guess I should’ve thought about it.” He tilted her chin toward him and kissed her lightly, brushing his lips against hers. “I want to be worthy of you, Lindsay. I didn’t want you to see that.”
“Never think that.” She kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his neck.
They stood together holding each other and kissing. The moment she reached under his shirt he backed up. “Let me see your hand.”
“No.” The cat and mouse game had to end. They had to truly be together.
“Stop this.” He furrowed his brow. “I want to see.”
“You stop.” She grabbed his forearm. “Forget my hand. I want you to make love to me.”
Shane turned away.
*~*~*
Be a man.
When faced with making love to the woman he had hopelessly and utterly fallen in love with, he needed to be a man. Not the kind of man who jumped into bed at his first opportunity, but the kind of man worthy of her, part of a couple. Since the day at the storage facility he’d acted like anything but a man.
“I’m sorry.” Lindsay dashed toward the bedroom.
“Wait!” Letters from the IRS. Doubting his own worth. Dillon. Everything was garbage. In a relationship with Lindsay, he was the man. He would take charge, which included telling her about those letters when he was damn good and ready, not caring about Dillon and being the boyfriend she wanted.
A real man went after his woman. With wide strides, he charged toward the bedroom.
Greeted with an empty room, he went straight for the bathroom, putting his ear to the door only to hear
her sniffling. He gave her one warning knock and opened the door. “Lindsay.”
“It’s okay.” She wiped her eyes on one of her baby blue towels.
“What’s okay?” He took her hand.
“It’s okay if you don’t want me.” At his touch, she flinched.
“How can you think I wouldn’t want you?”
“Shane, please.” She hid her face in her towel.
“Please let me show you how much I want you.” He’d never allow her to feel unwanted. He turned her toward him and pulled the towel away.
“I don’t think you do.” She refused to meet his gaze and pulled her robe tight around her.
In the course of the evening’s events he’d missed a ton, including Lindsay’s dark blue satin robe with black lace. “I want you so bad it scares me.” He moved her hands aside and took her all in. “I think I want you so bad I didn’t know what to do.” With a quick pull on the sash, the robe fell open.
“I have never wanted a woman so much.” He kissed her, letting his lips brush against hers, deepening it once she responded.
He slipped the robe over her shoulders. The matching nightgown caressed each of her curves and the reactions he’d fought overtook over him, warming and flooding his body. “Please tell me this is for me.”
“Yes.” The fabric pooled at her feet.
“It’s amazing.” He shimmied out of his shirt and lifted the slinky little number over her head. “But I’ve seen enough of this satin.”
She crossed her arms over her breasts.
“No. I want to see you, baby.” He stared into her face, making sure their eyes connected before his gaze traveled down to her neck and her chest, taking in the yet uncharted territory. “You’re gorgeous.” He wrapped his arms around her and let his lips traverse the same path his eyes made only moments before and took a breath. No matter what he needed, the only important thing was Lindsay.
He dropped to his knees, taking care with every move. He cupped her breast in his palm, appreciating how it overflowed in his hand. Unable to resist, he took a tight, hard nipple into his mouth.
“Oh.” She grabbed at his Mohawk.
His arousal could no longer be kept at bay. He gave in, swirled his tongue over her breast, buried his face in her cleavage, and savored the taste of her skin, fresh from a shower, sweet and clean.
“Shane.” She arched her back.
Finally with the chance to explore her, he continued, kissing her stomach, using his tongue and his lips to trace the smooth landscape she offered.
Without tensing or protesting she let him rid her of the blue satin panties. He licked his lips at his first opportunity to truly touch her and inhale the faint perfume that confirmed he’d ignited her need.
Her voice hitched. “Oh, God.”
“What, baby?” He ran his tongue around her belly button and tickled the inside of her thigh. Though he wanted to taste and touch her everywhere, her comfort was forefront his mind. The way his jeans tightened told a different story, he needed her.
“Shane.”
He remained on his knees. “Tell me.”
Her chest heaved as she took a deep breath. “I never …”
Before she revealed what he already knew, he reached up, putting his finger to her lips. “I know.”
“But …”
“I want you so bad.” Above all she needed to hear his words and believe them. With his cheek on her stomach, he carefully slipped his pinky inside her, pleased to find her slick and ready for him.
“Oh.” She dug her nails into his shoulder.
He was the only man to ever touch her that way. The thought alone stirred him. He would be the one to show her the magic when two people joined together.
“More,” she whimpered.
He added another finger, her body opening up for the pleasure he wanted to give her. Her knees gave out. “I want to make love to you.” He whispered and caught her weakening body then picked her up. “I’m going to make love to you.”
“Yes.” As if in a trance, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pursing her lips up to him.
He accepted her invitation, kissing her passionately as he carried her to the bed. Anticipation curled around him, but he retrieved his wallet before struggling out of his jeans and briefs.
“I have condoms.”
“I got them.” Though intrigued by her admission, it was his show. He pulled the comforter aside, laid her down and moved next to her. For the first time his eyes took in her perfect, smooth skin, never marred by anything but a set of earrings he placed in her ears. Shane was the first one to permanently mark her.
He would be the first man to make love to her. Unable to wait any longer, he flipped his wallet open for the condom.
“Wow.” With one finger, Lindsay traced down the tattoos on his chest, stomach and leg.
He held his breath when her gaze settled on his erection and she licked her lips. “Don’t ever doubt how much I want you.” He put the condom on and paused, trying to think of the best way to continue without hurting her.
“Do it fast, everything I’ve read says for the man to do it fast,” she whispered in his ear.
He peeked at her from the corner of his eye. No doubt she was the smarter of the two of them. Ever since they met, she took on the role of teacher while she literally saved his livelihood. However, he was the man, and he kissed his finger and placed it over her lips. “Let me show you how wonderful this can be.”
No more time for thinking, overanalyzing and second guessing. He’d take care of his woman. In one fluid motion, he thrust into her, capturing her gasp with a kiss and making her his.
She was his.
“Breathe.” He kissed her, buying himself some time by not moving, allowing her a moment to become accustomed to the two of them together. “Breathe baby.”
She took a deep breath. “Now, Shane.”
He needed no more prodding. After all the waiting his body demanded relief, and he treated them both to a series of slow, shallow strokes.
A moan escaped her throat and she held on to his shoulders.
“You okay?” Though he tried holding back, his body longed to thrust into her.
“Yes.” She lifted her hips to his. “It feels…”
“It feels good?” He needed to make sure, and when she nodded he took hold of her hips. “Move with me.” He guided her, enthralled with watching her every movement, the way she bit her lip, sped up on her own, and moved her legs further apart. However when she called to him and dug her nails into his arms he knew he wouldn’t last too much longer. But there was something more important than his satisfaction. “Come with me.” He thrust faster needing release.
“Oh.” Lindsay inhaled sharply. “Shane.”
He shut his eyes tight. If he watched her he’d fall over the edge too soon and he panted, trying to contain himself. “You need to come.”
“Yes.” She held him tighter.
“Oh God, Linds.” The inevitable was upon him. He tensed in anticipation of the ultimate pleasure and couldn’t stop from plunging into her. “Lindsay! Baby! I can’t hold on.”
“Shane.” She moved her head from one side to the other.
“I need to come.” He pleaded for her to end his sweet torture. “Please Linds. Now! Please!”
Obeying a primal command, she screamed out his name and her body contracted against his, spurring him on to his own release.
“Oh God, Lindsay!” Feeling like he could never be deep enough, he crushed his body into hers as the last waves of euphoria hit him.
With no strength left, he lowered over her, enjoying how her chest heaved against his. Still trying to catch his breath, he brushed her hair from her face. “Breathe.” He kissed the side of her neck, collapsing against her. “Breathe, baby.”
The whole world became silent and serene.
“Shane.” Her voice called to him, a welcome interruption.
He never wanted to move. “How are you?”
&
nbsp; “We did it.”
“Yeah.” He kissed her lips and continued to stare at her. Now he understood why men wanted virgins, why it was such a prize. He never experienced that sort of closeness with anyone. Now she was his and his alone to cherish and make happy, make love to, and share everything with. She’d willingly given him something no one else could ever have from her. That night at the storage room, he remembered thinking he would either be the guy that broke her heart or her only one. Without a doubt he knew which one he chose. He would have to change.
He was Lindsay’s man.
*~*~*
For the first time in her life Lindsay slept naked, and she put her hand over her own mouth when she woke up to the warmth of her comforter and Shane. Before she rolled over, she listened to his breathing. His steady but deep inhales and exhales comforted her.
The heat rose in her cheeks as she relived everything, from Shane making it official between them, to how he kissed and touched her, and of course her climax and heat generated elsewhere. Once the pain dulled, she never imagined making love would be that amazing. It had to be because of Shane.
She bit her nail and turned over, smiling when she got a chance to look at him, flat on his back and sound asleep. The man truly was a work of art, from his hair like a sculpture, his perfect face that could grace any magazine cover, and the flesh he used as his canvas. She assessed all of his masterpieces.
With one finger, she inched the comforter down. Most of Shane’s tattoos were on his upper arms, his left side boasted vines and plants intermixed with animals and his painters palate. His right side provided the backdrop for his biomechanical tattoo made to appear as if he was part man, part machine. Famous for designing the unique art pieces, she knew he created his own art while Ivan did the actual tattooing. However, she discovered that the intricate tattoo traveled over his shoulder, down his side, stomach and ended on his upper thigh.
Oddly enough, Shane left his chest untouched, leaving the dragon on his stomach all by itself. Though she couldn’t see his back, she wanted to continue her explorations and gripped the blanket when she realized what she was about to reveal and froze.
Permanent (Indelibly Marked) (Volume 1) Page 22